Chirality Josephson current due to a novel quantum anomaly in inversion-asymmetric Weyl semimetals

Abstract

We study Josephson junctions based on inversion-asymmetric but time-reversal symmetric Weyl semimetals under the influence of Zeeman fields. We find that, due to distinct spin textures, the Weyl nodes of opposite chirality respond differently to an external magnetic field. Remarkably, a Zeeman field perpendicular to the junction direction results in a phase shift of opposite sign in the current-phase relations of opposite chirality. This leads to a finite chirality Josephson current (CJC) even in the absence of a phase difference across the junction. This feature could allow for applications in chiralitytronics. In the long junction and zero temperature limit, the CJC embodies a novel quantum anomaly of Goldstone bosons at $\pi$ phase difference which is associated with a ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$ symmetry at low energies. It can be detected experimentally via an anomalous Fraunhofer pattern.

15 pages, 8 figures

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• Equilibrium current in a Weyl-semimetal - superconductor heterostructure
• Signatures of interfacial topological chiral modes via RKKY exchange interaction in Dirac and Weyl systems
• Quasiparticles-mediated thermal diode effect in Weyl Josephson junctions
• Evidence of decoupling of surface and bulk states in Dirac semimetal $C{d}_{3}A{s}_2$
• Thermoelectric properties of inversion symmetry broken Weyl semimetal-Weyl superconductor hybrid junctions
• Non-equilibrium dynamics in Holography
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